Growth rate: slow foliage: 3 whorled on top of a single stem, elliptic to ovate, mottled silver-white, margins slightly wavy flowers: solitary, hanging from leaf axil, 3 leafy outer sepals and 3 petals, some stalked, maroon, erect, clawed, spring followed by a berry in early summer hardiness: zones 3-7 to 9 depending on species soil: moist, organic prefered although tolerates many; acidic ph 4. 5-6. 5 light: sun in spring and part to full shade after (as in deciduous woodlands) pests and problems: none serious landscape habit, uses: woodlands, natural gardens, shade borders, effective massed but with other perennials to cover as foliage dies back in early summer other interest: native to north america or asia depending on species, some species have many common names; native americans used cooked roots of the purple trillium as an aphrodisiac, emetic and anti-spasmodic; purple trillium is also called stinking bejamin as the flowers smell of rancid meat (as do some other species), attracting its pollinator the big green fleshfly other culture: resists moving (usually dies) unless dormant or all root system is gathered in large amount of undisturbed soil propagation: rhizome division in midsummer (difficult) or seed (takes 2 years to germinate) source: university of vermont